Convict Guide - published 2006 - Manual / Resource - Page 182
Guide to New South Wales State archives relating to convicts and convict administration
the inhumane. (Australian Encyclopaedia, 4th ed., vol. 7, p.162).
Convicts could escape from penal settlements on the mainland, but on
Norfolk Island this was impossible. The harsh conditions sparked three
unsuccessful rebellions against authority in 1826, 1834 and 1842.
(Hirst, Convict Society, p.142).
Establishment of a
Court of Criminal
Jurisdiction on the
island
In 1835 'An Act for the more effectual Administration of Justice at
Norfolk Island' was passed. This Act allowed the Governor to institute a
Court of Criminal Jurisdiction at Norfolk Island, granted the court full
power and authority to try and punish convicts on the Island who
committed another offence while there. (NSW Government Gazette,
24 June 1835, p.427).
Convicts treated
more humanely
under Commandant
Maconochie
It was not until Alexander Maconochie was appointed as Commandant of
Norfolk Island in 1840 that the convicts, some of whom were sent
directly from England, started to be treated more humanely. (Barry,
Alexander Maconochie pp.99-105). Maconochie held progressive views
about the rehabilitation of convicts and initially had support in England.
His experiments, however, were conducted in such a way as to arouse
criticism. (Barry, Alexander Maconochie pp.146-147).
Norfolk Island under
jurisdiction of Van
Diemen’s Land
In February 1844 Maconochie was replaced by Captain Joseph Childs
and on 14 September the Island came under the jurisdiction of Van
Diemen's Land. Under Childs and his successor, John Price a police
magistrate from Van Diemen's Land, the Island regained its reputation
for brutality. This it retained until 1853 when transportation to Van
Diemen's Land ceased and the penal settlement on Norfolk Island,
which had been declining for some time, was closed.
See Shipping lists of convicts sent to and from Norfolk Island, 1828–50
pp.186-188.
a) To Norfolk Island from New South Wales p.186.
b) From Norfolk Island to New South Wales p.187.
c) To Norfolk Island from Great Britain, 1840–50 p.188.
See Shipping list of convicts from Van Diemen's Land to Norfolk Island,
1826–40 pp.194-195.
From Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land, 1845–47 p.199.
Appendix IV: List of convict records in the Public Record Ofice, London
available as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project.
15.2
Indexes to the records
Index to the Colonial Secretary's Papers, 1788–1825 *ARK and is
available on State Records' website
Colonial Secretary's Correspondence: Index to convicts and others,
1826–77 and ongoing. Compiled by Joan Reese
Colonial Secretary's Correspondence: Index to letters sent re
convicts, 1826–May 1855. Compiled by Joan Reese
Colonial Secretary's Correspondence: Index to letters sent to the
Sheriff, 1828-50. Compiled by Convict Connections
Contemporary Colonial Secretary's Indexes and Registers, 1826–
1900, NRS 922 available in State Records' reading rooms
Index to Colonial Convict Movements, 1827-1853. Compiled by the
Descendants of Convicts Group Inc.
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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